27.12.14

THE ULTIMATE BLOGGER'S CAMERA? OLYMPUS PEN E-PL7 LITE

You've probably seen this little gem of a camera floating around the bloggerphere, popping up on Twitter and all over Instagram. It seems to be hot property right now, sitting pretty within the homes of some of my favourite fashion bloggers and vloggers - Olympus have certainly done a great job at getting this piece of tech out there into the hands of people who would appreciate it most. Although I use a Nikon DLSR to take blog photos, it's incredibly chunky and totally impractical for taking out; it's basic in terms of functionality and sometimes it takes ten or twenty shots to get a great one. However, the new Olympus Pen E-PL7 Lite ensures photography is both professional and fun while on-the-go, combining some amazing features to make this the ultimate camera for bloggers and photography enthusiasts alike.

Not only does this vintage inspired camera look incredible, but it features some really handy modes to ensure your pictures are fabulous. I've been thoroughly putting it to the test over the last couple of weeks and couldn't be happier with the results; although I do prefer to use my big beefy camera for product shots, this is definitely being used for everything else. Here are the top five features I love and why this is my favourite new blogging toy...

1. Built-In WIFI
The best thing by far about this gadget is the fact that it creates its own WIFI hotspot, which can be paired with your smartphone and used to import images in seconds using the Olympus app. That means you can snap an incredible picture on your camera and post it directly to Instagram or Twitter within seconds, removing the need for dodgy iPhone angles or pixelated images.

2. Flip-Down Screen
If you're a fan of selfies then the flip down screen makes them even easier to perfect. The whole screen flips down beneath the camera (rather than to the side) to ensure your eye level is as close to the camera lens as possible. Rather than having to guess what pictures you're taking, the flip-screen ensures you can take the snap you want without the fuss. It's also great for filming videos too! 3. Practical Filters
Including fourteen 'art' filters and nine 'scene' effects that help
enhance your photos, add a filter or focus on one particular tone, it's
so easy to create images that look amazing. I love the 'candle' effect that's brilliant for taking snaps in low light, as well as the soft focus filter which makes every selfie Instagrammable. There's even the functionality to focus on only one colour and turn the rest of the image black and white, turning the spotlight onto one element in particular. 4. Great Quality Video
Unlike a lot of smaller cameras, the Olympus Pen actually produces great quality video that more than competes with my Canon that was purchased just for that purpose. The camera is much smaller, lighter and easier to manoevre, making it great for filming or vlogging on the go. This has given me a kick in the posteria to start vlogging more in 2015 - with this bit of tech I don't have an excuse. 5. Touch Screen
It's what dreams are made of. No more faffing around trying to find the shutter button when taking selfies, no more trying to focus the camera on one part of your picture and failing miserably. The touch screen allows you to touch where you want to focus and ensure that's the primary point of the image, as well as making pictures so much faster to take. I took this on a recent client shoot and was thrilled with how easy the touchscreen made snapping away.

At around £499.00 this isn't a cheap gadget or a throwaway purchase, but if you're in the market for a camera that does everything (and more) then this could definitely be an option. It hasn't replaced my Nikon completely, as I still like looking through the viewfinder and taking shots without having to adjust angles, but it is amazing for using while out and about. It's allowed me to start being more adventurous and will definitely encourage me to vlog more going forward. For a compact camera that takes amazing images and has features I've never seen before on another device, this is certainly a winner. Ten out of ten from me.

The Olympus Pen E-PL7 Lite costs around £499.00 (although there are better deals online.) I was given the camera free of charge to try, but all opinions are my own.

This sounds nice - I got a new camera for Christmas which I'm really pleased with but I'll bear this brand in mind for the future as that really isn't a bad price for so many features - built in wifi would be so handy xx

This looks really handy. Like you I also have a Nikon DSLR which I use but I do find that sometimes it's just to big to bring out with me and it shouts out expensive. This is much more discreet yet has all the helpful features. Really like the slip screen! Marianne xwww.beautiful-in-essence.blogspot.com

Although I love my Nikon DSLR, I have to agree that it is not the most practical to carry around for daily quick snaps. I have been looking for smaller alternatives that I can take with me when going out, without compromising on the image quality. Thank you for this review!

This looks like a great camera! At the moment I'm saving for a Nikon DSLR (it's nice to hear a blogger using a brand other than Canon!), but I will be looking to upgrade my vlogging camera in the future & will definitely be keeping this one in mind! Xx

You are making me SO glad that I gave myself a little Christmas present bought this little baby! Now I'm just (very eagerly) waiting for it to arrive. Can't wait to have a play and so pleased to hear you say that the video quality is comparable to your Canon.

Wow this is a really beautiful camera! I would definitely love to add this to my collection. I've just found your blog and I love it! Excited to read through your archives and looking forward to more posts :)